DIGITAL.NEOSKOSMOS.COM THE WEEKEND NEOS KOSMOS | SATURDAY 11 JULY 2015 7 NEWS New Coptic Orthodox HQ for Melbourne In preparation for the new centre for the Coptic Orthodox Church, Bishop Suriel paid a visit this week to the Greek Centre for Contemporary Culture in Melbourne's Lonsdale Street. The bishop was accompanied by Dr Michalis Michael of Latrobe University, along with EEAMA representatives Anthony Kollyvas and Peter Economou. The visitors were given a tour of the building by the centre's director Jorge Menidis, who showed them through the facilities and gave them a rundown of the programs. Bishop Suriel expressed his admiration for the Greek Community of Melbourne's vision, and said that he looked forward to further discussions with the community. The Coptic Orthodox Centre will be located on the corner of Latrobe Street and Queen Street. Go back to where you came from Star swimmer in hot water over Kyrgios comments Swimming legend and Australian of the Year Dawn Fraser caused a stir this week, after she proposed on national television that tennis stars Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic should "go back to where [his] parents came from" for acting 'unAustralian'. The controversial comments EEAMA representatives Anthony Kollyvas and Peter Economou, (C-L) along with Bishop Suriel, director of the Greek centre Jorge Menidis, and Dr Michalis Michael. Cyprus commemorations imminent To mark the 41st anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, events will take place across the country, organised by nationwide branches of the Pan-Australian Justice for Cyprus Coordinating Committee (PASEKA). In a recent statement, president of the Cyprus Community of Melbourne and Victoria Constantinos Procopiou said the events are as much "to demonstrate against the invasion and continuing occupation of Cyprus, and a show of our support to the struggle for freedom". A key note speaker during the commemorative events will be Cyprus' Minister of Agriculture, Agricultural Development and the Environment Nikos Kougiales. Accompanied by the High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus in Oceania, Ioanna Malliotes, the minister is set to make his first appearance in Sydney on Sunday 19 July, where he will take part in a church service for the fallen and a wreath-laying ceremony. Mr Kougiales will then travel to South Australia on Wednesday 22 July where he will take part in further commemorative events and on to Melbourne. A demonstration has been were made on the Nine Network's Today Show following accusations that Kyrgios, whose father is Greek and mother Malaysian, tanked in the third game of the second set during his encounter against Frenchman Richard Gasquet at Wimbledon. Widely considered a racist attack, the Greek Community of Melbourne released a statement expressing its "disappointment and dismay at the overtly racist language and sentiment". "We feel that there is little place in a contemporary, multicultural and cosmopolitan Australia for the sort of public statements that were made by Ms Fraser," said Greek Centre director Jorge Menidis. Protestors took to the streets of Melbourne last year to mark the 40th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. called for 5.00 pm on Friday 24 July at the Victorian Parliament, followed by a candlelight vigil. On Sunday 26 July, the minister will attend a liturgy at the church of Saint Efstathios in South Melbourne. The Greek community of Brisbane will welcome the minister to Queensland on Monday 27 July. Members of Greek Australian communities across Australia are invited to participate and show their support for Cyprus. PHOTO: GREEK REPORTER. "Suggesting the removal of people from this country who somehow don't seem to fit in with Ms Fraser's notion of what it is to be Australian is not only perplexing but quite hurtful to the many migrants and their descendants who have made multicultural Australia the great nation it is today." Fraser condemned the 20-year-old's performance as "absolutely disgusting" and that the players should be "setting a better example for the younger generation of this great country of ours". After which came the punch line: "If they don't like it, go back to where their parents came from. We don't need them here in this country to act like that." Kyrgios and his family expressed great offence to the comments, the player tak- Swimming great Dawn Fraser made the comments during an appearance on the Today Show Australia. PHOTO: NEWS.COM.AU ily and fellow Australians for her comments, which she claims were meant on a "purely sporting level". "Nick's representing Australia and I want to see him representing Australian tennis in the best possible light," she explained. "Not only do you represent yourself, your team, your fans and your family but you are representing the heritage of the competition and acting as a role model for young Australians." Kyrgios' brother however thinks the apology is too little, too late. The young tennis star called Fraser out as a “blatant racist”. PHOTO: AAP/EPA/GERRY PENNY. ing to Facebook to express his thoughts on the matter, referring to Fraser as a "blatant racist". In a heated media conference following the match, the 29th seed expressed his shock at the suggestion of tanking. "Of course I tried. There was a lot of ups and downs. It was a tough, tough time, especially when [Gasquet's] not missing any balls. "I'm getting frustrated myself. I feel as if I'm playing not how I should be playing. I'm angry at myself," he said. On Twitter, the player's mother Nill called Fraser's comments a "nasty racist attack", while his brother Christos said though he wouldn't label Fraser a racist, the comments were "disgusting". "If she thinks the way he played out there for that one- game duration was unacceptable in her books, then fine, say that. Say 'I don't like the way you played that match', or say 'it wasn't good sportsmanship'. "[But] don't then go and backhand every sort of ethnic in the country," he said. It didn't take long for the former swimmer to release a statement apologising to the tennis star, his fam- "Those comments were pretty black and white. "The last few days I have been hearing the way Nick has been acting is un-Australian. Compare it to ... [Fraser's comments] - I know how I want my kids to act," he said. Hours after Fraser realised the widespread furore her comments had created, she said she apologised "unreservedly" for the offence caused. Source: ABC, 9News.com.au THE BEST BURGERS IN TOWN 38 Portman St., Oakleigh - www.mickadams.com.au - T: 9563 0331 48227